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New York Family Law Blog

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Plaintiff requested termination of spousal support and recalculation of child support. JJ v. TW, 70 Misc. 3d 1225 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2021)

In JJ v. TW, 70 Misc. 3d 1225 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2021), among other things, the plaintiff requested that the court terminate spousal support. An interesting aspect of New York law when it comes to spousal support modification is that the Family Court Act and the Domestic Relations Law outline…

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In the absence of marriage, without evidence of a formal agreement or financial contribution, there no right to property or financial support. Farre v. Lours, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 33963 

Common law marriage is a legal concept that recognizes a couple as married without the need for a formal ceremony or marriage license. It typically arises when a couple lives together for a certain period of time and holds themselves out as married, presenting themselves to others as spouses. In…

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ppellate Division upheld child support and maintenance modifications due to procedural default and emancipation. Feldman v. Feldman, 185 A.D.3d 552 (N.Y. App. Div. 2020)

This case centered on a post-divorce dispute involving modifications to child support and maintenance obligations. The plaintiff appealed orders and judgments that adjusted the defendant’s financial responsibilities, arguing against the decisions rendered by the Supreme Court, Kings County. The appeals revolved around procedural defaults, the emancipation of the parties’ child,…

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Appellate Division affirmed sole custody to the mother due to deteriorated co-parenting and father’s limited involvement. Connell-Charleus v. Charleus, 140 N.Y.S.3d 752 (N.Y. App. Div. 2021)

In a case concerning the custody of a minor child, the Family Court of Kings County addressed a petition to modify the custody arrangement outlined in a Florida judgment of divorce. The court considered whether a change in circumstances warranted granting the mother sole legal and physical custody of the…

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Court restricted a father’s social media posts to protect child’s privacy and family relationships. Walsh v. Russell, 214 A.D.3d 890 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023)

This case involved a dispute between parents over custody of their child, which led to additional issues related to the father’s use of social media. The Family Court addressed concerns raised by the mother and the attorney for the child (AFC) regarding the father’s social media activity, which included sharing…

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Olga P. v. Ioannis Y. 182 A.D.3d 447 (N.Y. App. Div. 2020) 

Navigating the complexities of family law, especially during a marital dissolution involving custody, support, and family offenses, requires a deep understanding of legal procedures and judicial discretion. In a series of decisions spanning from late 2018 to mid-2019 by various judges and courts in New York County, a marital dispute…

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Calculating spousal maintenance. AW v PW 2022 NY Slip Op 51177(U)

In AW v PW, 2022 NY Slip Op 51177(U) the court was tasked with determining spousal support and child support amounts pendente lite, amidst a divorce proceeding initiated by the Plaintiff in December 2020. “Pendente lite” is a Latin term meaning “pending the litigation.” Pendente lite spousal and child support…

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Appellate Division applies the Indian Child Welfare Act to a custody matter. Suffolk Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. v. Samantha Q. (In re Dupree M.)

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 is a federal law designed to protect the best interests of Native American children and preserve the stability and security of Indian tribes and families. While originally enacted to address the alarming rate of Native American children being removed from their families…

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Father incarcerated for willful failure to pay child support. Atkinson v. Atkinson, 181 A.D.3d 590 (N.Y. App. Div. 2020)

Under New York law, incarceration is a possible consequence for the willful nonpayment of child support. This punitive measure is considered a last resort and is typically employed when all other enforcement methods have failed to compel compliance with support obligations. The legal framework governing this area is outlined in…

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Family Court Finds Sexual Abuse and Derivative Neglect of Children. Nassau Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. v. George R. (In re Alexandria F.), 2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 7122 (N.Y. App. Div. 2018

In family law cases, the welfare of children is always the priority, especially in cases involving abuse or neglect. This  case involving George R. and Adalila R.-S. involves issues of abuse, derivative neglect, custody, and access. The Family Court in Nassau County made multiple findings, which were later modified by…

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